
The Course of the Heart
An extraordinary, genre-bending classic
M. John Harrison(Author)
Serpent's Tail (Publisher)
Published on 7. August 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-80522-497-6 (ISBN)
Description
The cult classic novel from the author of Climbers and The Sunken Land Begins to Rise Again
With an introduction by bestselling author of Our Wives Under the Sea, Julia Armfield
'A more grown-up version of The Secret History' LUCY SCHOLES
'A groundbreaking work' GUARDIAN
'The best literary fiction out now' DAILY MAIL
'Gloriously intelligent and beautifully written' INDEPENDENT
On a hot May night, three Cambridge students carry out a ritualistic act that changes their lives. Decades later, none of the participants can remember what transpired; but their clouded memories bind them together. Unable to move on, Pam Stuyvesant has epilepsy and is plagued by sensual visions. Her husband Lucas believes that a dwarfish creature is stalking him, and invents histories to soothe Pam's fears. Self-styled Sorcerer Yaxley becomes obsessed with a terrifyingly transcendent reality. The narrator is seemingly the least effected participant in the ritual: he is haunted by the smell of roses, and his guilt as he attempts to help his friends escape the torment that has engulfed their lives.
Strange, dreamlike and moving, The Course of the Heart is an examination of the edges of humanity where we lie, hide, hurt and heal.
'A spare textual elegance and closure-denying restraint that impresses and fulfils' IAIN BANKS
With an introduction by bestselling author of Our Wives Under the Sea, Julia Armfield
'A more grown-up version of The Secret History' LUCY SCHOLES
'A groundbreaking work' GUARDIAN
'The best literary fiction out now' DAILY MAIL
'Gloriously intelligent and beautifully written' INDEPENDENT
On a hot May night, three Cambridge students carry out a ritualistic act that changes their lives. Decades later, none of the participants can remember what transpired; but their clouded memories bind them together. Unable to move on, Pam Stuyvesant has epilepsy and is plagued by sensual visions. Her husband Lucas believes that a dwarfish creature is stalking him, and invents histories to soothe Pam's fears. Self-styled Sorcerer Yaxley becomes obsessed with a terrifyingly transcendent reality. The narrator is seemingly the least effected participant in the ritual: he is haunted by the smell of roses, and his guilt as he attempts to help his friends escape the torment that has engulfed their lives.
Strange, dreamlike and moving, The Course of the Heart is an examination of the edges of humanity where we lie, hide, hurt and heal.
'A spare textual elegance and closure-denying restraint that impresses and fulfils' IAIN BANKS
Reviews / Votes
A gloriously intelligent, beautifully written and thoroughly maddening book * Independent * A spare textual elegance and closure-denying restraint [that] impresses and fulfills -- Iain Banks * Guardian * One of the best writers currently at work in English -- Robert Macfarlane, author of The Wild Places Is M John Harrison the best writer at work today? He's certainly among the deftest and most original -- Olivia Laing * Guardian * A new generation will love discovering it for themselves: it has the giddy thrill of youth, plenty of terror and metaphysical transcendence, but it's never silly; instead, M John Harrison unpicks the very notion of escapism * Observer * Masterpiece... you might just have found your new favourite author * The Big Issue * If you're looking for a more grown-up - and more fucked-up - version of The Secret History, this is absolutely it. The prose and atmosphere are spot on -- Lucy Scholes * Prospect Magazine * Incisive pen portraits and quiet, elegant prose -- Lisa Tuttle * Guardian * Combines realism with horror and dream logic; parodies convoluted historical narratives and centres on an arcane rite that is never revealed * Daily Mail * An exhibition of verbal mastery * Literary Review *More details
Series
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Profile Books Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
236 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80522-497-6 (9781805224976)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
08/2025
Serpent's Tail
€12.49
Available for download
Persons
M. John Harrison is the author of, among others, the Viriconium stories, The Centauri Device, Climbers, The Sunken Land Begins to Rise Again, Signs of Life, Light and Wish I Was Here. He has won the Boardman Tasker Prize, the James Tiptree Jr Award, the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the Goldsmiths Prize. He lives in Shropshire.